The Mark of the Glutton

Divine Fist School grounds.

Qiu Feipeng paced restlessly in his room, glancing repeatedly towards Iron Palm Sect. Finally, he couldn't help but approach Feng Jiu, asking, "Mr. Jiu, will Manager He and the others be alright?"

"What could possibly happen?" Feng Jiu's table was laden with delicacies, his mouth slick with grease as he ate. "In Luyang City, no one believes Feng Qi has the ability to maintain justice anymore. If his keyword were truly 'Maintain/Protect,' his stats would have dropped to the lowest. He's not here in Luyang City looking for the killer; instead, he's gathered people from the Three Sects and Five Schools under the banner of 'Peacekeeping Joint Defense.' It's nothing more than a desperate, last-ditch effort."

"A desperate, last-ditch effort?" Qiu Feipeng raised an eyebrow.

Han Zuo, resting with his eyes closed nearby, glanced at Feng Jiu upon hearing this. He and Feng Qi were both Celestial Demons, but unlike Feng Qi's calm demeanor, Han Zuo felt a vague sense of unease deep within Feng Jiu.

"Feng Qi used a set of empty, grandiose theories to completely mislead the Feng Family, making them think they were about to unify the martial world. They fully supported Feng Qi. He's probably trying the same trick again by summoning the leaders of the Three Sects and Five Schools. However, Manager He already understands all his past actions and definitely won't fall for it," Feng Jiu scoffed, flicking away a clean chicken bone.

Clack.

The bone embedded itself deep into the wooden doorframe. He nodded in satisfaction.

"You also said, what if his keyword isn't 'Maintain/Protect'?" Qiu Feipeng asked.

"Feng Qi only took the Iron Palm Sect by sneak attacking the previous sect leader. He used underhanded tactics like threatening the old sect leader to command you. Now, his subordinates are only three to five hundred people he can't fully control. If we make a move, we can destroy everything he's done. He dares to provoke the Three Sects and Five Schools simultaneously? Unless he wants to quit this world," Feng Jiu said nonchalantly. "Young Master Qiu, Celestial Demons only need to align their actions with their keywords; they aren't fools. Feng Qi's biggest flaw is his arrogance; he always thinks he can control everything. If not for his arrogance, wouldn't the Feng Family be in a better state? If Young Master Qiu is still worried, we can find a new place to hide in advance..."

"What are you saying, Mr. Jiu? What will Manager He think of us if he returns and sees we've left?" Qiu Feipeng said sheepishly.

"I told you long ago, hiding anywhere in Luyang City would be much more flexible. We could leave when we wanted, stay when we wanted, and constantly sabotage Feng Qi... But you insisted on finding allies. Now, for the sake of face, you can't even leave..." Feng Jiu laughed mockingly, then his expression changed abruptly. He lunged towards the door, "Not good, someone's here, let's go!"

"Who?" Qiu Feipeng was stunned. Noises of commotion, clashing weapons, and shouting already echoed from outside.

"Ding Wanjie, are you insane? You dare attack the Divine Fist School?"

"Kill! Don't let a single villain escape."

"Ninth Brother, old friend, why the rush? Not even a greeting?"

"My dear little darlings, why turn your blades on me? Good children, put down your knives and let brother taste the flavor of your blood..."

"Feng Qi!" Hearing Du Ge's terrifying voice, Han Zuo suddenly stood up, exclaiming angrily, "Feng Jiu, that scoundrel! I knew he was untrustworthy. Fourth Young Master, Hall Master Yan, let's go quickly."

"How is that possible? Manager He wouldn't betray us?" Qiu Feipeng said.

"There are people from the Beggar's Sect outside. Manager He is likely already dead," Han Zuo urged. "Let's go, Fourth Young Master, Old Yan. Find a way to break out. Third Miss has gone to invite Master Tong. As long as the green hills remain, there'll be wood to burn."

"Dead? Manager He is from the Divine Fist School..." Qiu Feipeng looked utterly shocked.

"Fourth Young Master, don't worry about that now. If we don't leave, it'll be too late!" Han Zuo grabbed Qiu Feipeng's arm and pulled him towards the door.

But as they stepped out, their expressions turned even more grim.

The courtyard was a one-sided slaughter.

The Divine Fist School's Luyang City grounds had over twenty people. Aside from He Yuanan and the vice-leader, the rest were ordinary disciples of the Divine Fist School, with only a few possessing combat skills comparable to the incense masters of the Iron Palm Sect.

These people, plus the guards from the Iron Palm Sect's various halls and a few incense masters they brought, numbered no more than fifty or so.

Their opponents, however, were the leaders of the Three Sects and Five Schools: Gao Yong, Ding Wanjie, Nie Nong, and others.

Normally, fifty people could still put up a fight against a few experts.

But now, Wang San was outside the crowd, bizarrely interfering with the Divine Fist School members.

Under the siege of these experts, the fifty-plus people were in a panic, only thinking of escape. In front of these experts, they couldn't last more than two or three moves before being cut down.

"Kill Wang San first," Han Zuo accurately assessed the situation and shouted. "If Wang San isn't killed, no one will get out."

"Han Zuo, I like you so much. First you betray me, and now you want to kill me. What did I do wrong?" Wang San sneered, looking at Han Zuo as his voice drifted.

Immense fear instantly gripped Han Zuo's heart. He didn't even dare to look at Wang San. Having experienced it firsthand, he finally understood why everyone had fallen into chaos when Wang San spoke. Suppressing his inner terror, he trembled, "Fourth Young Master, kill Wang San..."

"You are all my lovers, no one can escape," Wang San cackled, encompassing everyone.

"No."

Qiu Feipeng retreated in terror.

Xia Mingliang of the Tianshan School glanced at them. With a sword move, he covered them all.

He had no choice but to act. From beginning to end, Feng Qi had been behind them, acting as a supervisor.

Everyone knew that even after signing the Peacekeeping Joint Defense contract, Feng Qi hadn't trusted them. The encirclement of the Divine Fist School was their proof of loyalty. Anyone who didn't participate would have their lives ended by Feng Qi's dagger, sending them to meet He Yuanan.

Why did he succeed again?

You are the Three Sects and Five Schools, how can you be as foolish as the Feng Family?

What benefits did he give you?

Why?

Why does everything he does go smoothly?

And that yandere, why is she so devotedly helping him?

What kind of advanced skill has he evolved?

Is this a "dumbing down" aura?

Looking at the high-spirited Feng Qi, Feng Jiu's heart bled with jealousy. Comparing their strengths, he took a deep breath, plastered a smile on his face, and said, "Seventh Brother, we're old acquaintances who know each other inside out. Do I still have a chance to join you?"

If I hadn't screwed you over, you would still have a chance...

Du Ge looked at Feng Jiu and shook his head. "Ninth Brother, if you hadn't sabotaged the justice I painstakingly maintained yesterday, you would still have a chance."

Feng Jiu suddenly fell silent, looking dejectedly at Du Ge. "Seventh Brother, I'm a student from the commoner academy. I know you won't believe me anymore. But I don't want to be eliminated so quickly. Give me another month. Let me enjoy the delicacies of this world a little longer."

"Seventh Brother, don't believe him," Feng Zhong whispered. "There are no weaklings in the simulation arena..."

Hearing Feng Zhong's words, Feng Jiu sighed inwardly. With an evil grin, he suddenly declared, "You forced my hand. If I devour you three, I'll ascend from the ground! Come forth, Taotie's Mark!"

The moment he spoke, Du Ge's senses flared. The flying dagger in his hand shot out, whistling through the air and embedding itself in Feng Jiu's chest.

But Feng Jiu didn't die. Black patterns suddenly appeared on his face. Once they emerged, they seemed to come alive, instantly covering his entire body.

Immediately after, his body rapidly expanded, tearing through his clothes. He transformed into a monster over two meters tall, with a sheep's face, a human's body, eyes under its armpits, and tiger's teeth and human claws. It looked at Du Ge, roared to the sky, and leaped forward, lunging at Wang San.

Du Ge was the "Maintenance/Protect." He didn't know Feng Zhong's keyword.

However, from Feng Yunjie, he knew that Wang San's yandere tendencies caused inexplicable fear. Therefore, he had to kill Wang San before he could speak, or he would have no chance.